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Niklas
2017-07-03 19:40

How to make a superlight hammock

Image 1. Click to open in original size.

Hammocks are good for many things. You can spend summer days in the garden in them, you can use them instead of tents while camping and you can strap them up indoors as an extra bed. And you can easily make them yourself.

You can use many types of fabrics to sew hammocks. In this example I will use ripstop nylon. It is very strong for its weight. I think the hammock I make will weigh under 500 gram.

Read and make sure you understand the whole description before you start working.

This is the material you need:

  • 3.28 meter 1.5 meter wide ripstop nylon.

  • 4 meter polyester rope at least 5 millimeter thick.

  • 8 meter 30 millimeter wide polyester webbing.

  • 2 stainless steel carabiners or rings at least 4 millimeter thick.

You also need these tools:

  • Scissors.

  • Knife.

  • Sewing machine.

  •  Lots of pins.

  • Matches or a lighter.

  • Pen and a long ruler if you don't want to wing it.

And this is how you do:

1. Cut the ripstop nylon

If it isn't already 3.28 meters, cut it. The ripstop nylon has a square pattern that is easy to follow if you want straight edges.

2. Fold and sew the short edges

Fold the nylon along the short edge. Make the fold 1 centimeter at each end. Pin and sew.

3. Fold and sew the long edges

The long edges should be folded twice. First 1 centimeter and then another 2 centimeters. Pin and sew.

4. Fold and sew the short edges again

This time, fold it once and make the fold 4 centimeters. Pin and sew twice. Once on each side of the seam from step 2, but leave an open channel at least 2 centimeter wide along the edge. When you are done there should be three parallel seams.

5. Thread polyester rope through the channels on the short edges

If you have done it right there should be a channel along the short edges of the hammock. Thread the polyester rope through it and push the nylon to about 10 centimeters from the end of the rope. Cut the rope, burn the ends so it doesn't fry and make sure not to set it on fire. Thread the rope through a carabiner or steel ring before you tie the ends together into a small ring. 

Do this in both ends of the hammock.

6. Cut and sew the polyester webbing

Cut the polyester webbing in the middle so you have two 4 meter straps. Burn all ends.

Fold one end of each strap about 10 centimeters from the end. Then sew the 5 centimeters at the end so it makes a loop.

7. Cut the tension cord

Cut 2.8 meter polyester rope and burn the ends. Tie each end to one of the carabiners or steels rings that you attached to the hammock in step 5.

The purpose of the tension cord is to adjust the tension on the hammock so you can lie diagonally in it. When you lay diagonally you can lay almost level, like in a bed.

Try out your new hammock

Find two suitable trees to hang the hammock between. Make sure the ground is flat and without rocks between the trees. 

Fasten one polyester strap around each tree by threading the straight end through the loop in the other end. Depending on how far apart the trees are you will have to put the straps at different heights. You have to experiment.

Tie the straight ends of the straps to the carabiners/steel rings and make a knot that will not loosen when there is tension. It is important that the knot can be untied even if it has been tightened hard.

Carefully sit on the hammock to see that it holds your weight before you lay in it. Check that the knots doesn't give to much way.

This hammock was inspired by this excellent Instructable.


Best regards, Niklas 🎈

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Evelina
2017-07-03 22:01
#1

Can you make a how to for how to make a mini hammock for cats? 🙂

Niklas
2017-07-04 17:47
#2

This is Savvity, everything you need is already here. Just follow this hammock guide for mice but make it ten times as big:

Hammocks for mice

:-)


Best regards, Niklas 🎈

Niklas
2017-07-04 21:15
Image 1. Click to open in original size.
#3

#0: I have found an alternative to step 6. Instead of making the straps yourself you can buy packing straps with metal buckles. Many of the 25 millimeter ones has a breakage limit of 500 kilo. That should be more than enough for a one man hammock. As a bonus it seems that those are cheaper than buying webbing and making your own. I have found them in lengths from 0.5 to 5 meters.


Best regards, Niklas 🎈

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